[CliffFletcher]

The only policy changes put forward have been removing the ban on donating sperm, and preferential treatment in public housing.

It seems pretty clear that the discrimination people with non-standard sexuality still suffer from in Canada is outside the scope of public policy. Violence and hate speech are against the law, and those laws are enforced. Yes, they’re still broken. But that’s true of other targeted identities and individuals. Anti-semitism has been illegal for decades, but people still deface synagogues and threaten Jews.

So we’re down to the level of attitudes and unwanted speech. And if you look around the world, the only countries where the state can suppress unwanted attitudes and speech are states where people with non-standard sexuality don’t have any rights in the first place. Every society liberal enough to tolerate minority identities also has broad protections for unpopular speech and expression. That’s not a coincidence - it’s the way liberalism works.

It’s up to those of us who aren’t bigots (which thankfully in Canada today is the great majority) to use our social persuasion to marginalize those who are. As Sliver said, setting an example to those around us. There will still be miserable losers and religious fanatics who carry out hateful speech and deeds. When they do, we should ensure they’re subject to the the full force of the law.